South Africa’s Steyn targets November return

JOHANNESBURG: Fast bowler Dale Steyn is hoping to make a comeback following a year out with a shoulder injury at next month’s South African domestic Twenty20 competition.

Following an extended spell of rehabilitation, Steyn said he has finally recovered from the shoulder problem he suffered while bowling against Australia during last November’s test series.

“My arm is perfect, if anything its stronger than it was before because it’s (been) reinforced with a pin,” the 34-year-old told ESPNcricinfo.

“It’s 100 percent now. I’ve just got to start reminding myself how to bowl at high speeds because I haven’t done it for a year.”

Steyn is particularly excited to work under Ottis Gibson, the former fast bowler who is now South Africa’s new head coach.

“It’s the first time in my career I have had a head coach who was a bowler,” he added.

“It gets me excited because he (Gibson) is on the same wavelength as us. For the first time its also great to see that the head coach is out in the middle when the bowlers are bowling and not in the nets with the batters.”